What do you call that piece of wood there? Why, the communion rail, to
be sure. Communion? what does that mean? It is only a piece of wood,
and yet it makes us think of Him Who, the same night that He was
betrayed, took bread, saying, "Do this in remembrance of Me." Kneeling
at that rail, we may, by faith, take hold of the Man who died for us.
Rightly used, the Lord's Supper may be manna--angels' food.
What is this day? The Sabbath. The Rest Day. The toils of life are
o'er for a little time. Ah! this is another of the stones we see, which
tell of stones we cannot see. There is a Sabbath that has no week-day;
there is a world where there is no toil, no anxiety, no tears!
"O, long expected day begin!"
What do you call that sweet noise? Music? And what is that but another
of these stones we can see, which tell of others we see not as yet. Dr.
Watts said of sacred music--
"Thus, Lord, while we remember Thee,
We, blest and pious grow;
By hymns of praise we learn to be
Triumphant here below."
While I hear those children's voices I seem to catch the sweeter strains
of my children in heaven, singing their joy. Those deep, manly bass
voices remind me of the psalms up yonder--like the sound of many waters.
Why, the very crape some of you wear reminds me of some who sat by your
side, and who are now clad in garments "whiter than snow."
XXX. "HE THAT SLEEPETH IN HARVEST IS A SON THAT CAUSETH SHAME."
PROVERBS x. 5.
We shall always be in debt to Solomon for these wise sayings, and for the
pains he took to have them preserved. The words which head this form a
picture. It is harvest-time, and the old folks have been depending on
their able-bodied son getting in all their corn, but they are doomed to
disappointment. He sleeps when he should work. When others are toiling
he is snoring, and his corn rots in the field because he does not carry
it while he has fine weather. How ashamed his father is! Other men have
got their corn well housed, but his is still where it grew, because the
son he has reared is lazy and self-indulgent. One feels that no language
is too strong for this indolent young man.
But what has this to do with us? some will ask. We reply--Is not this
the harvest time of the church, when the days are closing and the nights
lengthening? Have we not been used to hear of special efforts being made
for the rescue of perishing souls, and ingathering of those who are in
danger of dying unready?